Tribal Health policies need changing

Editor,

I was amazed at comments the head of Tribal Health, Kevin Howlett, made at recent public meetings.

At a district meeting in Ronan, he said Tribal Health has been a cash cow for local hospitals; health is a big business; anyone who goes to a doctor at Western Montana Clinic in Missoula will have to pay part of their own doctor bill because when a tribal member goes off the reservation to see a doctor, Tribal Health does not get anything from that visit except the co-pay. He said we need to generate revenue, too.

I personally had to pay over $500 for me and my 14-year-old son's doctor bills since Tribal Health took over for Indian Health service. I never paid a dime before then. I questioned him about this and his response was, "It's not entitlement funds."

When I asked someone at Tribal Health I was told co-paying was to "deter" the members from going off the reservation. I inquired why our Tribal Health pharmacy was the only pharmacy I could get my prescriptions filled. A few pharmacies I questioned responded that they used to have Tribal Health contracts, but Tribal Health took the contracts away and gave it to the high bidder as they were a tribal member.

On weekends or after hours, there is no place to get our prescriptions filled except the high bidder, which is over a 100-mile drive for me, if I can get there during their working hours and am feeling well enough to make it there

My enrolled tribal member granddaughter, who was three years old at the time, was refused doctor services at NOWCARE in Missoula. The clinic stated they were not supposed to take tribal members. She had walking pneumonia and was very sick. Also my 14-year-old son fractured his wrist, dislocating his forearm bones last winter. I remembered reading that if it isn't an emergency, Tribal Health will not pay. I waited until the next day before taking my son to see his regular doctor. My son ended up having surgery. The doctor said if I had taken him to the emergency room he could have just reset it, but now surgery was required because of the time delay.

Tribal members are being turned over to collection agencies for non-payment of their doctor bills. Mr. Howlett states that there is not enough money, yet he mentioned he has 160 employees. Congress has allocated funds to the tribes to pay doctor bills for the Indian people.

Early in 2005 I went before the tribal council to be reimbursed by $500 for doctor bills. I was told they (council) would contact the Tribal Health director, who would then contact the then ex-tribal chairman, and then the Tribal chairman would get back to me. I have not heard a word from anyone.

In conclusion, I understand that Tribal Health was reimbursed $3 million for Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance in 2003. Also Congress allocates only 55 percent for Tribal Health needs, yet due to his callous nature in trying to remedy our Tribal Health's financial situation, I feel the people need to be made aware of what is being said. Tribal Health needs money to pay our doctor bills, but having a heart and compassion in his decision-making might be a good start. By focusing only on generating revenue, he loses focus of the Indian people's health. I now understand why he has made such comments and decisions. He is a manager and only focuses on the dollars of our budget and not on the Indian people. He should travel the Yellow Brick Road and find a heart.

Cathy Finley Dupuis

Arlee